Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: What She Desires
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KABOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!
That blaze could be seen even from the distant Lion Territory.
A prickling magical reaction that anyone who could sense mana could feel.
Then came the deafening explosion, the scorching heatwave, and the mushroom-shaped cloud rising into the sky.
Watching the scene through the colored glasses Noah had given him, Lagos stared in shock with a calm expression.
‘(Hmm... Should I start preparing to run?)’
Lagos considered himself fairly strong.
He had fought and beaten mages before, and he believed that no matter how powerful a mage was, he could win depending on how he handled it.
But this was on another level entirely.
Humans can't defeat typhoons, the sun, or droughts.
This was on that kind of scale.
‘(But I've already taken too much money to just run now... What do I do?)’
Lagos had no knightly honor, but he prided himself on his credibility as a mercenary.
Considering that, he had received far too much gold from the Lion Family to simply flee.
‘(Hmm... What should I do?)’
Generally, large-scale area-of-effect spells like that were almost never used in wars.
Mages were human too, burdened by morality, and the moment such magic was permitted, it would unleash a hellscape of massive slaughter spells raining down on each other's territories.
But there were always exceptions.
For instance, if a mad lord invaded another's territory without justification, plundering and massacring, then both mage towers and lords would tolerate some use of magic in response.
Knowing full well that his own lord was in that category, Lagos felt grateful to still be alive.
The young pup from Cron—no, Lord Calix—could have sent knights against the monsters and that mage against them.
But he hadn't.
He had chosen a path where as few as possible would die, and thanks to that, Lagos was still breathing.
Many of the Lion Family knights, having gauged the situation from that blaze, were probably thinking the same thing.
As Lagos pondered what his lord would do in this situation and how he himself should act, a booming voice rang out from behind.
"Everyone, withdraw!!!!!"
Hadem shouted loud enough for the entire camp to hear.
He mounted his horse calmly and continued.
"The young pup from Cron—no, Lord Calix—seems to have dealt with the monsters properly, so we're heading back to the territory."
"Is that really okay, my lord?"
Lagos approached Lord Hadem and asked.
From Lord Hadem's perspective, retreating like this was a massive humiliation.
Yet, surprisingly, Lord Hadem spoke to his adjutant as if it were nothing.
"A wise lion knows when to fight. Let's go!!"
At his words, the Lion Family knights sighed in relief and began preparations to withdraw.
While most were simply relieved not to have been massacred by that blaze, Lagos was thinking differently.
He recalled his lord's words.
Lord Hadem never admitted defeat to anyone he didn't acknowledge.
In the good sense, it meant he recognized Calix. In the bad sense, it was a declaration that he now saw Calix as a proper adversary.
‘(Lord Calix, I wish you good fortune.)’
Hadem was cruel and believed in the logic of power, but he was no fool.
He had the strategic acumen to run a territory and lead his family to victory in countless battles.
The fact that such a man acknowledged Lord Calix as a rival made Lagos offer his quiet condolences.
After Sharen's magic wiped out the Deep Rock monsters, cleanup proceeded swiftly.
The remaining Deep Rocks were hunted down by the knights, and the Lion Family, terrified by Sharen's spell, withdrew immediately.
With everything resolved, we returned to the territory, and I immediately had Noah prepare it.
Once all issues were settled, it was time for that, of course.
A festival.
"Everyone, you did great!!! For Cron!!!"
["For Cron!!!!"]
With my words, everyone raised their glasses and shouted as the festival began.
The city, gripped by fear just yesterday, was now filled with the bright laughter of the townsfolk and delicious food, as if nothing had happened.
That was one reason I held this festival.
After experiencing terror, people needed a mental luxury.
And nothing fit that better than a festival.
It wasn't because I personally wanted one.
"Everyone, good work. Have a drink."
"Thank you, my lord!"
I went around pouring drinks for everyone.
For the knights who worked hard, the clerks who evacuated the people, and all who contributed.
This was also a performance as lord, showing I cared about everyone and knew their efforts.
It definitely wasn't because I enjoyed company dinners in my past life.
"My lord, pour one for me too!"
"You did great too, Noah. Thanks to you, the Deep Rocks gathered in the valley."
"Heehee, thank you."
Noah had led the treasury officials and guild to prepare the supplies needed for the plan, including the wild boars.
I poured her the white wine she liked.
After serving everyone, I sought out the most important person.
The greatest contributor to this plan, the walking nuke.
Searching for Sharen, I found her alone on a hill, quietly watching the festival.
"So here you were, Sharen."
"My lord..."
Her red hair fluttered as she gazed vacantly at the festival.
Only when I spoke did she turn to look at me.
Amazed once more that this slender woman had unleashed such immense magic, I sat beside her.
"Mind if I pour you a glass?"
"Of course, my lord. I'd be honored."
I poured her some wine.
She accepted it graciously, took a sip, and continued watching the festival.
"It's beautiful..."
"Is it?"
To me, she looked more beautiful in the moonlight.
With her red hair flowing, she resembled the goddess of flame.
"Yes. Of all the places I've been, Cron is the most beautiful."
"You're too kind. There are many richer territories than ours."
Calix was a native, born and raised in Cron.
But from info in my past life, there were plenty of wealthier, flashier territories.
The capital, and the Blackrose Family were famous for it.
Yet she shook her head, as if my words meant nothing.
"Those places are flashy. But not beautiful..."
She looked at the territory.
Gazing at the joyful, laughter-filled festival, she smiled and said,
"People laughing, holding hope for the future, and the spirits watching over them with smiles... I think that's true beauty."
I'd heard that elves here had sensibilities very different from ours.
They converse with spirits and perceive things people can't.
But I understood what she meant by calling this scene beautiful.
And I agreed with her.
"If that's beauty, then we're a bit confident in Cron."
"Yes, Cron really is the most beautiful."
After a quiet moment watching the festival together, I spoke to Sharen.
This was actually part of why I'd sought her out.
"Sharen, is there anything you desire from me?"
"Something I desire?"
It was about rewarding Sharen.
Our territory didn't have bounty money for a mage of Sharen's caliber.
We'd had it before, but I'd reinvested it all into the townsfolk.
So I was thinking of a different kind of reward than gold.
"Yes. Rewarding vassals for their merits is the duty of a leader. You earned yours. Though we can't offer much since the territory's funds are tight, I'd like to grant whatever you desire within my power."
"Something I desire..."
Sharen pondered Calix's words.
What did she truly want?
Until recently, Sharen's only wish had been to help people wholeheartedly.
But coming here, she felt she now knew.
Sharen didn't just want to do good deeds.
She wanted...
"I... want you to make every territory in the empire like Cron."
"E-Every territory in the empire?"
"Yes..."
From a very young age, she grew up in a village where elves and humans coexisted.
It was a small settlement of refugees, where she was born to an elf mother and human father she'd met there.
It was a humble village of huts, but also a peaceful, happy one where they helped and worked together.
Much like Cron here.
Coming here had resurfaced those memories, helping her find what she truly wanted.
It wasn't just about helping people.
She wanted to create that place.
"If you grant my wish, my lord... and turn the empire into a paradise like this..."
Sharen stood and approached Calix.
She knelt before him and kissed his hand.
It was the kiss of a vassal to her liege.
"Red Mage Sharen's flames will burn forever for you, my lord."
Her eyes burned with sincerity more than ever.
Sharen was this kind of character!?
Caught off guard by her unexpected heartfelt wish, my poker face nearly cracked.
No wonder—a pure-looking half-elf mage suddenly demanding world unification would shock anyone.
I went with the safest response to defuse the moment.
"A... alright. I'll do my best."
"Yes... Thank you."
Cron's festival night deepened.
And so did my worries.